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NEWYORKSTATE

DRAFT

STRATEGICPLAN

FOR

STATE

FOREST

MANAGEMENT

NEWYORKSTATE

DRAFT

STRATEGICPLAN

FOR

STATE

FOREST

MANAGEMENT

NewYorkStateDepartmentofEnvironmentalConservationDivisionofLandsandForests,BureauofStateLandManagement

625Broadway,Albany,NY122334255

Phone:(518)4029428 Fax:(518)4029028

Website:www.dec.ny.gov


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DraftStrategicPlan

and

DraftGenericEnvironmentalImpactStatement

for

StateForestManagement

2010

StatewidePlan

Preparedby

TheNewYorkStateDepartmentof

EnvironmentalConservation

Completed: August27,2010

Contacts: RobMessengerandJustinPerry

BureauofStateLandManagement

625Broadway,

5th

floor

Albany,NewYork122334255

(518)4029428

Fax:(518)4029028

Emailcommentsto:[email protected]

EndofCommentPeriod: October29,2010

WebaddresseswillbeprovidedinURLformatforadditional

reference.IfaDECURLshouldbecomeoutdated,trythesearch

engineontheDepartmenthomepage,www.dec.ny.gov.
mailto:[email protected]://www.dec.ny.gov/http://www.dec.ny.gov/mailto:[email protected]


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i

DavidPaterson

Governor,State

of

New

York

AlexanderGrannis

Commissioner,DepartmentofEnvironmentalConservation

RobertDavies

NewYorkStateForester

DECSMISSION

"Thequalityofourenvironmentisfundamentaltoourconcernforthequalityoflife.Itis

herebydeclaredtobethepolicyoftheStateofNewYorktoconserve,improveandprotectits

naturalresourcesandenvironment,andtoprevent,abateandcontrolwater,landandair

pollution,inordertoenhancethehealth,safetyandwelfareofthepeopleofthestate,and

theiroveralleconomicandsocialwellbeing." EnvironmentalConservationLaw10101(1)

DECSORGANIZATIONALSTRUCTURE

Thisplan

has

principally

been

developed

by

foresters

and

other

staff

within

DECs

Division

of

LandsandForests,BureauofStateLandManagement,whichisresponsibleforthecareofState

Forests.DEChas17divisionsandofficesandisfurtherorganizedintobureaustofulfillthe

functionsandregulationsestablishedbyTitle6ofNewYorkCodes,RulesandRegulations

(6NYCRR).DECisheadedbyCommissionerAlexanderPeteGrannis,whoisassistedby

executivemanagers.AdetailedorganizationchartcanbeviewedonDECswebsiteat:

www.dec.ny.gov/about/255.html
http://www.dec.ny.gov/about/255.htmlhttp://www.dec.ny.gov/about/255.html


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ii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Wegratefullyacknowledgetheeffortsofallwhocontributedtothisplan.Becausetheplan

representsanew,moreecologicalapproachtomakingmanagementdecisionsinNewYork,its

developmentcouldnothaveoccurredwithoutmanydiversecontributions.Thedevelopmentof

ecological

management

principles

required

clarification

through

lively

discussions,

debates,

critiquesandthepatientsupportoftoomanypeopletonamehere.We,theprincipaleditors,

thankallwhoparticipatedinthisprocess.

PrincipalEditors

David M. Forness, Bureau Chief, Bureau of State Land Management

Robert Messenger, Section Chief, Bureau of State Land Management

Justin Perry, Forest Certification Coordinator, Bureau of State Land Management

Dylan Walrath, Environmental Program Specialist, Division of Lands and Forests

TechnicalAdvisorsandAuthors

TechnicalAdvisorsthathaveconsiderableexperienceandexpertiseinthemanyaspectsofthe

historyandecologyofNewYork,aswellasitslaws,policiesandregulationsaffectingState

Forestmanagement,contributedsignificantlytodevelopmentofspecificsubjectareas.Without

theirguidanceandthesectionstheyauthored,thisplanwouldnotbeascomprehensiveasitis

today.(DivisionofLandsandForestsstaffunlessnotedotherwise)

Ron Abraham, Senior Forester DEC Region 9, West Almond

Victor Anderson, Senior Forester DEC Region 9, Falconer

Andrew Blum, Senior Forester DEC Region 7, Sherburne

Heather Carl, Natural Resource Planner DEC Central Office, Albany

John Clancy, Senior Forester DEC Region 7, Cortland

Sloane Crawford, Forester 2, Forest Products Utilization DEC Central Office, Albany

Vicki Cross, Senior Forester DEC Region 4, Stamford

Les Denison, Senior Land Surveyor, retired DEC Central Office, Albany

Dorothy (D.J.) Evans, New York Natural Heritage Program

Joel Fiske, Senior Forester DEC Region 8, Bath

Carole Fraser, Universal Access Program Coordinator DEC Central Office, Albany

Jeremy Hurst, Wildlife Biologist, DEC Division of Fish, Wildlife, and Marine Resources DEC Central Office, Albany

Eric Kasza, Planning Coordinator, DEC Office of Invasive Species DEC Central Office, Albany

Jeff Mapes, Environmental Program Specialist DEC Central Office, Albany

Greg Owens, Senior Forester DEC Region 7, Sherburne

Matthew Paul, Senior Forester DEC Region 3, New PaltzElizabeth Spencer, New York Natural Heritage Program

Chris Sprague, Senior Forester DEC Region 7, Sherburne

Ben Thomas, Senior Forester DEC Region 5, Warrensburg

Chuck Vandrei, Agency Historic Preservation Officer DEC Central Office, Albany

Gloria VanDuyne, Natural Resource Planner DEC Central Office, Albany

Karin Verschoor, Natural Resources Planner DEC Central Office, Albany

Mark Zubal, Senior Forester DEC Region 7, Cortland


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iii

VISIONSTATEMENT

State Forests will be managed in a sustainable manner bypromotingecosystemhealth,enhancinglandscapebiodiversity,

protectingsoilproductivityandwaterquality.Inaddition,State

Forests will continue to provide the many recreational, social

andeconomicbenefitsvaluedsohighlybythepeopleofNew

YorkState.DECwillcontinuethelegacywhichstarted80yearsago, leaving these lands to the next generation in betterconditionthantheyaretoday.

ThisplansetsthestageforDECtoreachtheseambitiousgoals

byapplyingthelatestresearchandscience,withguidancefrom

thepublic,whoselandwehavebeenentrustedtomanage.

WaterfallonSugarHillStateForestinSchuylerCounty


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iv

STATEWIDELOCATIONMAPOFSTATEFORESTLANDS

Createcustommaps withtheDECStateLandsInteractive

Mapperatwww.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/45478.html

SAMPLEVIEWOFSTATEFOREST

LANDS(NEARBINGHAMTON)

CLOSEUPVIEW

OFSTATEFORESTS

NewYorksStateForestlands(441StateForests)

TheseStateForestsaremadeupof

779,645acresintotal

736,452acresReforestationArea

21,086acresUniqueArea

16,071acresMultipleUseArea

5,010acresmisc.(PineBush,TidalWetland,etc.)

NYSDECBureauofStateLandManagement,GISSection.2010
http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/45478.htmlhttp://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/45478.html


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v

TABLEOFCONTENTS

DECsMission........................................................................................................................................................i

DECsOrganizationalStructure.............................................................................................................................i

Acknowledgements

..............................................................................................................................................

ii

VisionStatement.................................................................................................................................................iii

StatewideLocationMapofStateForestLands...................................................................................................iv

ANoteFromOurStateForester...........................................................................................................................1

CHAPTER1 NEWYORKSTATEFORESTS.............................................................................................................3

STATEFORESTOVERVIEW................................................................................................................................................5

WhatisaStateForest?........................................................................................................................................5

StateForestFacilities,InfrastructureandFeatures.............................................................................................8

StateForestLandClassifications........................................................................................................................12

STATEFORESTHISTORY.................................................................................................................................................15

Geologic

History

.................................................................................................................................................

17

MANAGEMENTPLANNINGOVERVIEW.............................................................................................................................21

StatewidePlan...................................................................................................................................................21

UnitManagementPlanning...............................................................................................................................22

PublicParticipation............................................................................................................................................23

ManagementTeamandResponsibilities...........................................................................................................24

SUSTAINABILITYANDFORESTCERTIFICATION.....................................................................................................................27

SustainableForestManagement.......................................................................................................................27

ForestCertification.............................................................................................................................................27

ForestSustainabilityasmeasuredbytheMontrealProcess..............................................................................28

STATEWIDEMANAGEMENTGOALS..................................................................................................................................31

Goal1ProvideHealthyandBiologicallyDiverseEcosystems..........................................................................31

Goal2MaintainHumanmadeStateForestAssets........................................................................................31

Goal3Provide

Recreational

Opportunities

for

People

of

all

Ages

and

Abilities

..............................................

31

Goal4ProvideEconomicBenefitstothePeopleoftheState.........................................................................31

Goal5ProvideaLegalFrameworkforForestConservationandSustainableManagementofStateForests32

SMObjectivesandActions..............................................................................................................................32

STATEENVIRONMENTAL QUALITYREVIEW(SEQR)............................................................................................................33

GenericEnvironmentalImpactStatement.........................................................................................................33

CHAPTER2 ECOSYSTEMMANAGEMENT.................................................................................................................37

ECOSYSTEMMANAGEMENT...........................................................................................................................................39

Biodiversity.........................................................................................................................................................40

INTRODUCTIONTOLANDSCAPEASSESSMENT.....................................................................................................................41

LandscapeAssessment

Process

..........................................................................................................................

43

STATEWIDELANDSCAPEASSESSMENT..............................................................................................................................45

HabitatAssessment............................................................................................................................................46

AssessmentofHumanImpactsontheForestsofNewYork(stressorsandtrends)...........................................53

StatewideGaps..................................................................................................................................................57

AssessmentoftheStateForestSystem..............................................................................................................58

ECOREGIONALLANDSCAPEASSESSMENT..........................................................................................................................65

EcoregionsinNewYorkState.............................................................................................................................65

HabitatAssessmentofForestLandatanEcoregionalLevel..............................................................................72


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vi

EcoregionalTrends.............................................................................................................................................73

EcoregionalHabitatGaps..................................................................................................................................75

LandCoverGaps.................................................................................................................................................76

ImpactsofHumansonanEcoregionalLevel(stressorsandtrends)..................................................................79

ACTIVEFORESTMANAGEMENT......................................................................................................................................81

Silviculture..........................................................................................................................................................81

ProtectiveMeasures

(forest

matrix

blocks,

connectivity,

retention

and

buffers)

..............................................

85

ActiveManagementGuidelines(salvage,clearcuttingandpesticide/herbicideuse)........................................93

AFMObjectives,ActionsandSEQRAnalysis.................................................................................................100

CHAPTER3 RESOURCEPROTECTION..............................................................................................................103

SOILANDWATERPROTECTION.....................................................................................................................................105

SoilProtectionandEcology..............................................................................................................................105

WaterEcology..................................................................................................................................................107

BestManagementPracticesandGuidelines....................................................................................................108

SWObjectives,ActionsandSEQRAnalysis...................................................................................................112

ATRISKSPECIESANDNATURALCOMMUNITIES...............................................................................................................115

ClassificationSystem

........................................................................................................................................

116

EndangeredSpeciesLaw..................................................................................................................................117

NewYorkNaturalHeritageProgram...............................................................................................................120

StateLandsAssessmentProject.......................................................................................................................122

NextSteps........................................................................................................................................................123

ARObjectives,ActionsandSEQRAnalysis....................................................................................................125

VISUALRESOURCESANDAESTHETICS.............................................................................................................................127

VisualResourcesonStateForests....................................................................................................................128

AestheticStandardsandGuidance..................................................................................................................130

PotentialAlternativesandRelatedImpacts.....................................................................................................136

VRObjectives,ActionsandSEQRAnalysis....................................................................................................137

HISTORICANDCULTURALRESOURCES............................................................................................................................139

HistoricandArchaeologicalSiteProtection.....................................................................................................141

HistoricProperty

Management

and

Protection

Guidelines

..............................................................................

142

HCObjectives,ActionsandSEQRAnalysis....................................................................................................143

CHAPTER4 REALPROPERTYANDINFRASTRUCTURE...........................................................................................145

LANDACQUISITION....................................................................................................................................................147

Policy................................................................................................................................................................148

FutureNeedsforLandAcquisition...................................................................................................................150

LAObjectives,ActionsandSEQRAnalysis.....................................................................................................151

BOUNDARYLINEMAINTENANCE...................................................................................................................................153

Procedure.........................................................................................................................................................153

ImpactsofBoundaryLineMaintenance...........................................................................................................154

ApplicableLaws................................................................................................................................................154BLObjectives,ActionsandSEQRAnalysis.....................................................................................................155

INFRASTRUCTURE.......................................................................................................................................................157

GeneralInfrastructureGuidelines....................................................................................................................157

Roads................................................................................................................................................................158

PointsofAccess................................................................................................................................................161

DirectionalandInformationalSigns.................................................................................................................162

Trails.................................................................................................................................................................163


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vii

FacilitiesandStructures...................................................................................................................................167

INFObjectives,ActionsandSEQRAnalysis...................................................................................................168

CHAPTER5 PUBLIC/PERMITTEDUSE..............................................................................................................171

UNIVERSALACCESS....................................................................................................................................................173

ManagementRequirements............................................................................................................................174MotorizedAccessProgramforPeoplewithDisabilities...................................................................................177

ImpactsofProvidingUniversalAccess.............................................................................................................178

UAObjectives,ActionsandSEQRAnalysis....................................................................................................179

FORMALANDINFORMALPARTNERSHIPSANDAGREEMENTS...............................................................................................181

AdoptANaturalResourceAgreements...........................................................................................................181

TemporaryRevocablePermits.........................................................................................................................182

NativeAmericanInvolvement..........................................................................................................................183

EducationandResearch...................................................................................................................................184

PRTObjectives,ActionsandSEQRAnalysis..................................................................................................184

RECREATION.............................................................................................................................................................187

HistoricalBackground......................................................................................................................................187

Mitigationof

Environmental

Impacts

from

Recreational

Use

..........................................................................

188

UseofRoads.....................................................................................................................................................190

WildliferelatedRecreation..............................................................................................................................191

Camping...........................................................................................................................................................195

WaterbasedRecreation..................................................................................................................................196

TrailBasedRecreation.....................................................................................................................................198

OtherRecreationalActivities............................................................................................................................206

RecreationPoliciesandGuidance....................................................................................................................208

RECObjectives,ActionsandSEQRAnalysis..................................................................................................210

OFFHIGHWAYANDALLTERRAINVEHICLEUSE................................................................................................................213

ATVBackground...............................................................................................................................................215

ATVImpactsandConstraints...........................................................................................................................219

StateForestATVPolicy.....................................................................................................................................222

ATVObjectives,

Actions

and

SEQR

Analysis

..................................................................................................

223

MINERALRESOURCES.................................................................................................................................................225

ExplorationandProductionofOil,NaturalGasandSolutionSalt...................................................................227

Mining..............................................................................................................................................................238

EmergingIssues................................................................................................................................................240

MRObjectives,ActionsandSEQRAnalysis...................................................................................................241

SUPPORTINGLOCALCOMMUNITIES...............................................................................................................................243

Tourism............................................................................................................................................................243

TaxesPaid........................................................................................................................................................243

Firewood..........................................................................................................................................................244

CommunicationandEducation........................................................................................................................244

LCObjectives,ActionsandSEQRAnalysis.....................................................................................................244

CHAPTER6 FORESTMANAGEMENTANDHEALTH..........................................................................................247

FORESTPRODUCTS.....................................................................................................................................................249

Timber..............................................................................................................................................................249

NonTimberForestProducts............................................................................................................................254

FPObjectives,ActionsandSEQRAnalysis.....................................................................................................258

PLANTATIONS............................................................................................................................................................261


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viii

CurrentConditionofPlantations......................................................................................................................263

PlantationManagement..................................................................................................................................265

PlantationManagementGuidance..................................................................................................................267

FutureNeedsforPlantationManagement......................................................................................................273

FORESTHEALTH.........................................................................................................................................................275

InvasiveSpecies................................................................................................................................................275

Controlof

Interfering

Vegetation

.....................................................................................................................

285

FHObjectives,ActionsandSEQRAnalysis....................................................................................................287

MANAGINGDEERIMPACTS..........................................................................................................................................289

ExistingConditions...........................................................................................................................................290

StrategiesforManagingDeerImpacts............................................................................................................294

DMObjectives,ActionsandSEQRAnalysis...................................................................................................297

FIREMANAGEMENT...................................................................................................................................................299

NewYorksFireHistory....................................................................................................................................299

FireDangerRatingAreas.................................................................................................................................301

FireReplicatedorDependantNaturalCommunities.......................................................................................302

GuidelinesforFireManagement......................................................................................................................304

FMObjectives,ActionsandSEQRAnalysis...................................................................................................306

CARBONSEQUESTRATION............................................................................................................................................307

CSObjectives,

Actions

and

SEQR

Analysis

.....................................................................................................

309

CHAPTER7 BACKGROUND.............................................................................................................................311

LEGALCONSIDERATIONS..............................................................................................................................................313

NYSConstitution...............................................................................................................................................313

Statutes............................................................................................................................................................313

Rules&Regulations.........................................................................................................................................314

Policy&Guidelines...........................................................................................................................................315

APPENDICES....................................................................................................................................................317

GLOSSARY................................................................................................................................................................319

BIBLIOGRAPHY...........................................................................................................................................................

331


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INTRODUCTIONANOTEFROMOURSTATEFORESTER

DraftNYSSTRATEGICPLANFORSTATEFORESTMANAGEMENT 1

ANOTEFROMOURSTATEFORESTERROBERTK.DAVIES

NewYorkbeganpurchasinglandforcreationof

StateForests

80

years

ago

in

response

to

serious

environmentalchallenges.Atthattime,75%of

forestlandinthestatehadbeenclearedfor

agriculturaluse.Moreover,asignificantportionofthetilledlandsufferedfrompoorfarmingpractices,whichdepletedthesoilofessentialnutrientsand

organiccontentandcontributedtosoilerosionand

streamsedimentation.Asaresult,manyoftheearly

farmsfailedandinsomecaseswereabandoned.

Thisdiresituationsparkedoneofthelargestconservationeffortsofthetime.

With thepassageoftheHewittLaw in1929, the firstStateReforestationArea

(StateForest)waspurchasedinCortlandCounty.Itwastooearlytorefertothis

propertybythecommonnameitholdstoday,HewittStateForest,as78%ofits

acreageconsistedof abandonedagricultural fields rather than forest land.Theremaining acreage suffered from unsustainable logging practices. TheConservationDepartment,withassistancefromtheCivilianConservationCorps,

planted more than one million tree seedlings on the Reforestation Area to

reclaimthelandsandreestablishforests.

The same restoration process was repeated on Reforestation Areas across thestate

over

the

following

decade,

focusing

on

the

most

abused

properties

in

the

state.Bylaw,theselandshadtobemorethan50%openandinneedofplanting

and worth no more than $4.00 per acre. Within the first ten years of the

program, more than 485,000 acres had been purchased and 340,000 of those

acres had been planted with seedlings from state nurseries, such as the one

operatedtothisdayinSaratogaSprings.

Today, thanks to the vision of State Senator Charles Hewitt and the efforts of

several generations of DEC foresters, New York State's 786,329 acres of State

Forestsarenowsomeofthemostproductive,healthyandvaluedforestsinthe

state.

Yetourworkisstillincomplete.Theplantationsestablishedinthe1930sand40sare reaching biological maturity and, now that their soils have had time to

recover,DEC forestersareworkingtoestablishmorenatural,mixedhardwood

forests intheirplacewhereappropriate.AsallofourStateForestscontinueto

growand mature,so doesour knowledgeand expertise inmanaging them for

publicbenefitinthemostecologicallysoundmannerpossible.

StateForester,RobertK.Davies


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INTRODUCTION

ANOTEFROMOURSTATEFORESTER

2 DraftNYSSTRATEGICPLANFORSTATEFORESTMANAGEMENT

Environmentalchallengesoftoday,althoughdifferent,arejustasacuteasthey

were80yearsago.Today,ourforestsfacemajorthreatsfrom invasivespecies,

habitat fragmentation, more frequent severe weather events, and climate

change.New

programs

within

DEC

now

focus

on

early

detection

and

eradication

ofintroducedspecies likeAsianlonghornedbeetle,emeraldashborerandoak

wilt disease, which are poised to invade our forests. Management strategies

strive to makeour forests more healthy anddiverse in order toenhance theirresistancetothesethreats.

Societystillrequiresandvaluesthetraditionalbenefitstheselandscanprovide,

including recreation, watershed protection and forest products. However, we

mustalsomanagethese landstoenhance theircarbonsequestrationpotential

andlandscapebiodiversity,andincreasetheirresiliencetohumanimpacts.

Thismanagement

plan

will

guide

the

future

management

of

our

State

Forests,

blendingtheprovenmanagementtechniquesappliedinthepastwiththemost

uptodateresearchandstrategiesavailable.Fortunately,thesciencebehindour

managementhasmaturedalongwithourforests.Multipleusestrategies,whichwe use to balance the wide diversity of demands placed on forests, are nowenhanced by the concepts of ecosystem management and landscape ecology.

PapermapsandtallybooksarebeingsupplementedbyGeographicInformation

System(GIS)mapping,computerdatabases,andGeographicPositioningSystem

(GPS)enabledfielddatarecorders.Thoughtechnologicaladvancessuchasthese

enableforesterstoworkmoreaccuratelyandefficiently,remainingunchangedisDECs commitment to leave this precious resource to the next generation in

bettercondition

than

it

was

when

we

started.

RobertK.Davies

NewYorkStateForester

Director,DivisionofLandsandForests

NewYorkStateDepartmentofEnvironmentalConservation


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NEWYORKSTATEFORESTS CHAPTER1


CCHHAAPPTTEERR11

NNEEWWYYOORRKKSSTTAATTEEFFOORREESSTTSS


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STATEFORESTOVERVIEW


STATEFORESTOVERVIEW

WHATISASTATEFOREST?

StateForests

are

located

throughout

New

York

StateandincludeReforestationAreas,Multiple

UseAreas,UniqueAreasandStateNatureand

HistoricPreserves.WildlifeManagementAreas,

ForestPreserve,ConservationEasementsandStateParksarenotStateForests.Thesestateownedlandsaremanagedbyotherprograms,

divisionsandagencies,underdifferentlegal

guidanceandstrictures,andarenotaddressed

inthismanagementplan.

StateForests

play

aunique

role

in

New

Yorks

landscape

because

they:

are

managed

under

publicownershipbyprofessionalforesters;allowforthesustainableuseofnaturalresources;

areopentorecreationaluse;providewatershedprotection;andcoverlargelandareas

throughoutthestate.Fromthebeginning,StateForestsweresetasidetooffsetwidespread

trendsofagriculturalabandonmentanddeforestationandrestorethelandsabilitytosupport

vegetation.

TheForestStewardshipCouncil(FSC)andtheSustainableForestryInitiative(SFI)havecertified

NewYorksStateForestsasbeingsustainablymanaged.Themethodsusedinthemanagement

oftheselandsaredesignedtorespondtotodayscomplex

issuesandecologicalthreats,suchasshiftinglanduse

trends,invasive

species

and

climate

change.

StateForestsprovideapositiveimpactonwaterquality

andecosystemhealth,aprovinggroundforinnovative

forestry,anexampleofgoodstewardshiptoprivate

landowners,andabalancetothekindofmanagement

drivenbyshorttermgoalsthatsometimesoccursonprivatelands.Longtermsustainabilityoftheforestedlandscaperequiresthesortofsteadyownershipand

consistentmanagementthatexistsonStateForests.

TimberManagement

Onmostoftheselands,timbermanagementisusedasa

tooltoenhancebiodiversity,createhabitatfeaturesthat

mightbelackinginthelandscape,andprovidearenewable

supplyofsustainablyharvestedforestproducts.Timber

managementisadaptedandmodifiedtoensurethatas

manygoalsaspossiblearerealized.

SustainablymanagedStateForests

provideforestproductsalongwith

waterquality,habitat,recreationand

ecologicallyhealthyforestlands


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CHAPTER1 NEWYORKSTATEFORESTS

STATEFORESTOVERVIEW


ThehighqualitytimberharvestedfromState

ForestsisusedbyNewYorkbusinessesandis

oftensentaroundtheworldtointernational

markets.Some

examples

include:

furniture

qualityhardwoods,softwoodsforlogcabins,fiber

forpapermaking,firewood,animalbedding,and

biofuels,likewoodpellets,andchipsburnedas

fuelforelectricityproduction,orethanolderived

fromwoodwaste.Lowergradetimberhelpsto

sustainNewYorkbasedandregionalbusinesses

thatdependonfiberforpapermaking,fuelwood,

andotherwoodfiberbasedproducts.

Harvestingwoodproductsandincorporatingthemintodurablegoodssuchashomesand

furnitureaidsincarbonsequestrationaswell,reducingtheamountofcarbonreleasedfromdecayingwood.Inaddition,timberharvestsprovideadditionalspaceandresourcesforthe

remainingornewtreestouseinsequesteringadditionalcarbon.Besidesbeingarenewable

resource,woodisamuchmoreenvironmentallyfriendlybuildingmaterialthanmostofthe

potentialsubstitutessuchasplastic,steel,aluminumorconcrete.Lesscarbonisemitted,fewer

wasteproductsarecreatedandlesswaterisusedinthemanufacturingprocessofwood.

WildlifeHabitat

Themanagementofstateforestsprovidesa

widevarietyofhabitatconditionsthatarenot

oftenfound

on

private

lands.

On

alandscape

scale,stateforestsofferlarge,relatively

undisturbedareasthatarerequiredbymany

wildlifespeciesforhabitat.Opengrassyareas

maybemaintainedtoprovidehabitatfor

grasslandbirdspecies.Largeareasofearly

successionalforest,containingseedling/sapling

sizetrees,canbefoundinotherareas.These

areascanbeimportanthabitatformanybirds

rangingfromgrouseandwoodcocktowarblers

andsparrows.

At

the

other

end

of

the

spectrum

of

forest

conditions,

large

areas

of

mature

hardwoodsandconifershavingminimumdisturbanceofferhabitatforbirdssuchaspileated

woodpeckers,goshawks,barredowlsandredshoulderedhawks.Harvestingoperationscanbe

tailoredtoprovidebenefitstowildlife.Evenagedmanagementsystemscreateearly

successionalhabitat,whileunevenagedmanagementsystemsprovidelarge,unbroken

expansesofforest.Suchhabitatisbecomingscarceasprivatelandsaresubdividedandhabitats

arefragmented.

AtimberharvestonStateForestlands

RockCityStateForestinCattaraugusCounty


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STATEFORESTOVERVIEW


OpenSpace

Openspaceforpublicuseandenjoymentis

increasinglyvaluedasopportunitiesforuseof

privatelandsdeclineduetoposting,subdivision

anddevelopment.

The

current

trend

of

subdivisionanddevelopmentinruralareasis

causinglongtermchangesinthelandscape.

Stateforestspreserveopenspaceandthe

characterofundevelopedareas.

OutdoorRecreation

StateForestlandsarealsohighlyvaluedfor

recreation.Morethan2,446milesoftrailsand

forestroadsareavailableforcamping,hiking,

mountainbiking,

snowmobiling,

horse

riding,

snowshoeingandcrosscountryskiing.StateForestsmaycontainfeaturesofspecialinterestsuchasgeological

formations,waterfalls,

culturalresourcesand

uniquenaturalcommunities

whichrequirecarefulprotectionandresponsibleuse.Thesepropertiesare

alsoenjoyedbyhuntersand

trappers,anglers,

wildlife/natureobservers,

picnickersandboaters,aswellasbyorienteeringandgeocachingenthusiasts.

Bestofall,thereisno

entranceoruserfee

chargedonStateForests

makingthemavailabletopeopleofallsocioeconomic

levelsandoneofthebest

recreationalvalues

in

New

YorkState.

ADDITIONALINFORMATION

RulesforUsingStateForestsAnyoneenjoyingStateForests

mustobservetheruleswhichprotectboththemandtheforest

environment,andarebasedon6NYCRRParts190199.

www.dec.ny.gov/lands/44115.html

DirectoryofStateForestsAclickablelistofDEC(andOPRHP)

administeredpubliclands,includingmaps,informationon

individualStateForestsandcontactinformationcanbeviewed

atwww.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/347.html

StateLandsInteractiveMapper(SLIM)Aninteractiveonline

mappercanbeusedtocreatecustommapsofrecreational

trailsonDEClandsthroughoutthestatetohelppeopleplan

outdooractivities.AlinktotheSLIMislocatedatDECs

MappingGateway:www.dec.ny.gov/pubs/212.html

GoogleEarthVirtualGlobeData SomeofDEC'smapdata,

includingaccessiblerecreationdestinations,boatlaunches,

landscoverage,roadsandtrailscanbeviewedinGoogleMaps

orGoogleEarth.AlinktoGoogleEarthisalsolocatedatDECs

MappingGateway.

HikingtheLongPathintheCatskillregion:Multiple

usetrailsonStateForestsprovidepartoftheground

coveredbythislongdistancetrailthatstretchesfrom

theGeorge

Washington

Bridge,

to

John

Boyd

Thatcher

StatePark,outsideAlbany.
http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/44115.htmlhttp://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/347.htmlhttp://www.dec.ny.gov/pubs/212.htmlhttp://www.dec.ny.gov/pubs/212.htmlhttp://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/347.htmlhttp://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/44115.html


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STATEFORESTOVERVIEW


STATEFORESTFACILITIES,INFRASTRUCTUREANDFEATURES

StateForestFactSheet

State

Forest

LandArea

ReforestationAreas 743,136acres

786,329

acres

2.5%

of

New

Yorkstotalland

area.

Fourtimesthe

sizeofNewYork

Citysfive

boroughs.

UniqueAreas 22,112acres

MultipleUseAreas 16,071acres

Miscellaneous:Natural

ResourceManagement

Areas,PineBush,Tidal

Wetlands, etc.

5,010acres

Boundary

Lines

Boundarylinesrunadjacenttoprivateland

andoftenthroughdeepwoods.Theyare

maintained,usingyellowpaint,signsand

blazesatleastonceeverysevenyearstomake

statelandreadilyidentifiabletorecreationists

andpassersby,whilereducingunintentional

trespassonbothStateForestsandprivate

land.

6,520

miles

Equivalenttoa

linefromNew

Yorkto

the

southerntipof

SouthAmerica

Public

Forest

Access

Roads

Publicforestaccessroads(PFARs),including

morethan10,000culvertsandbridges,are

maintainedsothepubliccansafelyenterState

Forestlandswithminimalenvironmental

impact.

563

miles

Equivalenttoall

thecitystreetsin

bothAlbanyand

Binghamton

TrailBased

Recreationon

Multiple

UseTrails

(includes

PFARs;does

notinclude

municipal

roads)

HikingTrails 1,211miles

2,446

miles*

* Whenmultiplerecreationaluses

overlapona

trail,overlapping

sectionsare

countedforeach

useandadded

tototaltrail

miles.

MountainBikingTrails 803miles

CrossCountrySkiingTrails 881miles

EquestrianTrails 762miles

SnowmobileTrails 801miles

Recreation

Facilities

Trailheads/ParkingLots 705StateForest

facilitiesare

usuallyof

amore

primitiveand

undeveloped

nature,in

comparisonwith

mostparksand

campgrounds.

DesignatedCampsites(Backcountrycampingis

also

available

across

a

majority

of

State

Forest

lands.) 156

BoatLaunches 18

FishingPiers 6

AccessibleRecreationDestinationsareas

withfacilitiesthataredesignedtoprovide

accesstonatureforpeoplewithdisabilities

27


19/347


STATEFORESTOVERVIEW


StateForestFactSheetMAPPWDPermitRoutes

MotorizedAccessProgramforPeopleWithDisabilities(MAPPWD)designatedroutesthat

provide

ameans

for

permit

holders

to

accessrecreationalprogramslikehuntingand

fishingviamotorvehicle.

255routeswithin

111StateForests

(incl.UA,MUA,etc.)

54of82ofUMP

Unitshaveat

leastone

MAPPWDRoute

MineralResources

Activewellpads 132Inactivewellpads 76SurfaceMines(sand,gravel,etc.) 21

Historic&CulturalResources

Uninventoriedresources,including

archaeologicalsites,firetowers,waterholes,

stonewallsandfoundations

Approx.2,500

WaterResources

Streamsbyclass

ClassAAorA 145milesClassB 50milesClassC 1,449milesClassD 134miles

Ponds,lakes,wetlands(incompleteinventory)

5,164features

33,456acres

SustainableForest

Resources

SustainableHarvestThresholdLevel(Growth/year

adjusted

for

mortality)

116,649Mbf/year(Thousand

board

feet/year)

**2%

of

the

total

valueofforest

products

harvestedfrom

publicandprivate

landsinNewYork

Stateeachyear

Annualharvesting(averageannualrateovera

tenyearperiod)

Total 43,783Mbf/year

Expressed asapercent

ofthesustainable

harvestthresholdlevel

37.5%EconomicContribution(averageannualsales19992008)

$5,317,564

**

RecreationalUseandDemandAsprivatelyownedlandscontinuetobesubdividedandareincreasinglyclosedtogeneral

publicuse,StateForestshavebecomemorepopular.Asexplainedingreaterdetailinthe

Recreationsectionofthisplan,thediversityofrecreationaluseshasgrownalongwiththe

numberofpeoplerecreatinginStateForests.Overthelastfewdecades,thetraditionalusersof

theselands,suchashuntersandhikers,havebeenjoinedbymountainbikersandpeopleusing

GPSunitsforgeocaching.RecreationaluseofStateForestsdoesnotwaneintougheconomic


20/347


STATEFORESTOVERVIEW


times,butactuallyincreases,inpartbecause

therearenoentranceoruserfeeschargedto

enjoytheseproperties.

Commercialactivities

such

as

timber

harvesting

andmineralextractiononStateForestsalso

impacttheinfrastructuresystem,dueprimarilyto

theuseofheavytruckstomovelogsand

machinery.Theeffectsonroadscanbemitigated

byrequiringcontractorstoimproveand

rehabilitateroadssothattheycansupportthis

usewithoutnegativeenvironmentalimpacts.

FundingandStaffingDECs

Division

of

Lands

and

Forests

maintains

and

manages

acombined

4.6

million

acres

of

StateForests,ForestPreserveandConservationEasements,includingtheinfrastructure

associatedwiththeselands.ThisisanarealargerthantheentirestateofConnecticutand

comprising92%ofallpubliclyownedlandinNewYorkState.In2009,fundingforthe

managementoftheselandsdroppedmorethan60%fromfivemilliontolessthantwomillion

dollarsannually.Thisisroughly44centsper

acretocovermaintenanceofthemorethan

1,500milesofPublicForestAccessRoads,

4,000milesoftrails,hundredsofbridges,

dams,parkinglots,kiosks,outhouses,lean

tos,thousandsofculvertsandsigns,andmore

than17,000milesofboundarylines.

DECisaddressingtheshortfallonacaseby

casebasis,closingroads,bridgesandtrails,

andbreachingdamswhenpublicsafetyisat

riskorthelandcouldsufferexcessivedamage

becausefacilitiescannotbeadequately

maintained.

Staffinghasdeclinedrecentlyaswell.In2009,StateForestsweremanagedwithafieldstaffof

35permanent

full

time

foresters

and

forestry

technicians

and

14

seasonal

employees.

With

the

currenthiringfreeze,permanentstaffdeclinedbythreefulltimeforestersorabout8%.A

slightlylargerdropisexpectedin2010,againduetoretirementsandthehiringfreeze.This

presentsseriouschallenges.Forinstance,therehasbeennolandmanageronLongIslandfor

morethantwoyearstomanageabout16,000acresinNassauandSuffolkcounties.These are

heavilyusedrecreationalareasandincludesensitivesites,endangeredspecies,andextensive

pinebarrens.InDECRegion9,fulltimepermanentstaffassignedtoStateForestswasreduced

BridgessuchastheaboveonColeHillStateForestin

AlbanyCountyrequiremaintenanceinorderto

provideaccessforhikers,crosscountryskiersand

otherrecreationalusers


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STATEFORESTOVERVIEW


morethan35%duetoretirementsin2009.Underthecurrenthiringfreeze,thesepositionswill

notbefilled.Thestatewidetrendtowardslowerstaffingnumbersisexpectedtocontinue.

LowerstaffinghasadirecteffectonNewYork

Statesbudget

because

staff

losses

include

personnelwhomanagetimbersales,which

providesignificantrevenuestothestate,while

enhancingwildlifehabitat,improvingforest

health,andsupportNewYorkseconomy.As

identifiedbyaNYSComptrollersOffice2006

auditoftheBureauofStateLandManagement,

aforesterharvestingtimberonafulltimebasis

generated$4.30intimbersalerevenueforevery

$1.00insalaryandfringebenefitcosts.Thus,

evenonahalftimebasis,theforestergenerated

$2.15intimbersalerevenueforevery$1.00in

salaryandfringebenefitcosts. Thatsameauditrecommendedthatthestatehirean

additional17foresters.However,asofthe

datewhenthisplanwaspublished,this

recommendationhasnotresultedinan

increaseinstaff.

ResourceProtectionbyRegulationsStateForestsmaycontainfeaturesofuniqueinterest.Uniquegeologicalformations,deepwoods,waterfallsandculturalresources

suchas

old

homesteads,

cemeteries

and

historical

sites

can

draw

inquisitive

visitors.

State

Forestscanalsoharborrareandendangeredplantcommunitiesandecosystems.Thesespecial

habitatsaddemphasistothestewardshipresponsibilitiesofStateForestmanagement.

Regulationsprotectthesevaluableresourcesbyprohibitingindividualsfromtakinganytree,flower,shrub,fern,fungiorotherplantlikeorganisms,mossorotherplant,rock,soil,fossil

ormineralorobjectofarchaeologicalor

paleontologicalinterestfoundorgrowingon

Stateland,withtheexceptionthat

recreationistsmaycollectfungi,fruitorberriesfortheirpersonalconsumption.

Forestersinspect

atimber

sale

on

State

Forest

land

A2006NYSComptrollersOfficeauditreport

estimatedthat,overthethreeyearperiodstudied,anincreaseof17foresterswouldhavecreatedanetrevenueincreaseof$3.7

millionperyear.

DECmaypostsignsdenotingseasonal

restrictions,sitespecificsafety

precautions,orotheruniquerulesand

regulationstoprotectspecialfeaturesand

resources.


22/347


STATEFORESTOVERVIEW


STATEFORESTLANDCLASSIFICATIONS

StateForestlandclassificationsaredefinedinseveralpiecesofland

acquisitionlegislation.Theclassificationsplacedifferentprioritiesonland

uses.For

example,

classification

as

aUnique

Area

places

higher

priority

on

thepreservationofscenicandnaturalcharactercomparedtootherland

uses.

ThepeopleoftheStateofNewYork,inapprovinganewconstitutionfor

thestatein1938,approvedanewconstitutionalprovisionatArticleXIV,

Section3,paragraph1,whichrecognizestheimportanceofstateland

acquisitiontoprotectandenhancethestatesforestsandwildlife:

...Forestandwildlifeconservationareherebydeclaredtobepoliciesofthe

state.Forthepurposeofcarryingoutsuchpoliciesthelegislaturemay

appropriate

moneys

for

the

acquisition

by

the

state

of

land,

outside

of

the

AdirondackandCatskillparks...forthepracticeofforestorwildlife

conservation.

Numerouspiecesoflegislationhaveimplementedthisconstitutionalprovision.Asdiscussed

below,legislationhasbeenenactedwhichhasresultedinthecreationofReforestationAreas,

MultipleUseAreas,UniqueAreas,andotherlandclassifications.

ReforestationAreas

TheauthorizinglegislationfortheacquisitionofReforestationAreas(ECL90501(1))provides

that:

InordertoprovidefortheacquisitionoflandsoutsideoftheAdirondackparkandthe

Catskillpark...whichareadaptedforreforestationandtheestablishmentand

maintenancethereonofforestsforwatershedprotection,theproductionoftimberand

otherforestproducts,andforrecreationandkindredpurposes,theDepartmentmayacquireinthenameofthestate,bygift,purchaseorappropriation,reforestationareaswhichshallconsistrespectivelyofnotlessthanfivehundredacresofcontiguouslands,

whichshallbeforeverdevotedtotheplanting,growthandharvestingofsuchtreesas

shallbereforested.

MultipleUseAreasMultipleuseareasareparcelsoflandacquiredbythestate primarilyforoutdoorrecreation,includingpubliccamping,fishing,hunting,boating,wintersports,and,

whereverpossible,toalsoservemultiplepurposesinvolvingtheconservationand

developmentofnaturalresources,includingthepreservationofscenicareas,watershed

protection,forestryandreforestation.ThefirstlegislativeauthorizationforMultipleUse

Area,foundatParks,RecreationandHistoricPreservationLaw,15.01(1)(b):]provides:


23/347


STATEFORESTOVERVIEW


"...moneysreceivedbytheStatefromthesaleofbondssoldpursuanttothe

parkandrecreationlandacquisitionbondactof1960and1962shallbe

expended...(b)fortheacquisitionofrealpropertyforotherthanstateparkor

municipalparkpurposes,toprovideadditionalopportunitiesforoutdoor

recreation,including

public

camping,

fishing,

hunting,

boating,

winter

sports,

and,whereverpossible,toalsoservemultiplepurposesinvolvingthe

conservationanddevelopmentofnaturalresources,includingthepreservation

ofscenicareas,watershedprotection,forestryandreforestation...

Amorerecentbondactauthorizingtheacquisitionoflandsformultipleusepurposesisthe

EnvironmentalProtectionActof1990.Specifically,ECL540303authorizestheacquisitionof

openspacelandconservationprojectslistedinthestateOpenSpaceLandAcquisitionPlan

preparedpursuanttoECLArticle49,Title2.Morerecently,the1996CleanWater/CleanAir

BondAct,atECL560307,authorizedtheacquisitionofopenspacelandconservationprojectswhichenhancewaterqualityprotectionandpublicaccesstowaterbodies.

UniqueAreas

AUniqueAreaPreservationProjectisdefinedinECL510703(4)asastateprojecttoacquire

landsof specialnaturalbeauty,wildernesscharacter,geological,ecologicalorhistoricalsignificanceforthestatenatureandhistoricalpreserve,andsimilarlandswithinaforestpreservecountyoutsidetheAdirondackandCatskillParks.SeealsoECL520101(h).Unique

Areasareformedbylandacquisitionorredesignationofexistingstatelandatthediscretionof

DEC.StateNatureandHistoricPreservesarealsocommonlyreferredtoasUniqueAreasand

aremanagedbyDECinmuchthesameway.

StateNatureandHistoricPreserves

StateNatureandHistoricPreservesareparcelsoflandacquiredbythestatetoprotect

biologicaldiversityandprovideafieldlaboratoryforobservationofplantsandanimalsand

educationabouttheirrelationshipsinnaturalcommunities.Theseareasmayalsoprovideprotectionforplacesofhistoricalinterestandbeusedforrecreationbythepublic.Thestate

NatureandHistoricalPreserveisauthorizedbyArticleXIV,Section4oftheNewYorkState

Constitution,providinginpartthat

(t)helegislatureshall...providefortheacquisitionoflandsandwaters...outsidethe

forestpreservecounties,andthededicationofpropertiessoacquiredornowownedwhich,becauseoftheirnaturalbeauty,wildernesscharacter,orgeological,ecologicalor

historicalsignificance,

shall

be

preserved

and

administered

for

the

use

and

enjoyment

of

thepeople.

ThisconstitutionalprovisionisimplementedbyECLArticle45.ECL450117(3)providesthat:

(l)andsdedicatedtothepreservearedeclaredtobeputtotheirhighest,bestandmost

importantuseandaretobeheldforoneormoreofthefollowingpurposes:


24/347


STATEFORESTOVERVIEW


a. asnaturalcommunitiesformaintainingplants,animalsandnaturalcommunities;b. Asreservoirsofnaturalmaterialsandecologicalprocessesthatcontributetothe

state'sbiologicaldiversity;

c.

As

field

laboratories

for

scientific

research

and

education

in

natural

sciences,

includingthefieldsofbiology,conservation,ecology,naturalhistoryand

paleontology;and

d. Asplacesofnaturalandhistoricalinterestandbeautywhichprovidethepublicwithpassiverecreationalopportunitiesincluding,whereappropriate,fishing,

huntingandtrapping,orcommercialfishingopportunitiesthatarecompatible

withprotectingtheecologicalsignificance,historicfeaturesandnaturalcharacterofthearea.

e. Asoldgrowthforesttobeprotectedwithminimalmanagementordisturbancethatonlyconsiderspassiverecreationalopportunitieswithnoconstructionof

public

amenities.

Withtheexceptionoflandsacquiredforoldgrowthprotection,theremaininglandsunderECL

Article45,maybeactivelymanagedincludingtheuseofprescribedburnstoperpetuatefire

dependentnaturalcommunities, andharvestingtrees,providedtheseactivitiesdonot

diminishtheuniquecharacterofthepropertywhichprompteditsinclusioninthestateNature

andHistoricalPreserveTrust.Inthesecases,harvestingmaybeusedasatooltofurtherbiodiversity,foresthealth,resiliencytoinsectsanddisease,orpublicsafety.

Miscellaneous

Somestatelandshaveotherclassifications,suchaspinebush,sandplains,ornature

preserve.Themanagementoftheseareasisbasedonthelegislationwhichauthorizedtheir

acquisitionandthemanagementgoalsestablishedbyDECfortheland.Somestatelands,especiallyinLongIsland(DECRegion1),arereferredtoasNaturalResourceManagementAreas

andarecomposedofparcelsunderavarietyofthestatutoryclassificationslistedabove.

ThereisalsoasmallamountofStateForestlandwithintheAdirondackParkboundarythatis

consideredbytheAdirondackParkAgencytobeWildForestlandsundertheAdirondackPark

StateLandMasterPlan.Totheextentthatitdoesnotimpairthewildforestcharacterof

theselands,timberharvestingisallowed.


25/347


STATEFORESTHISTORY


STATEFORESTHISTORY

Beforethemiddleofthe19th

century,forestshadbeenprimarilyviewedasanobstacleto

civilization;theyweresomethingtobeclearedoutofthewayforagriculture,ortobe

unsustainablycut

and

exploited

for

profit.

By

the

1880s,

less

than

25%

of

New

York

State

remainedforested.

Attheturnofthe20thcentury,NewYorkStatesremainingforestswerespreadthinandlosing

stock.TheNewYorkForest,FishandGameConservationCommissionwarnedthatthestate

wouldrunoutoftimberwithin50years.Thecommissionhadreasontobealarmed.Timber

companieswerecuttingtheremainingtreesatanalarmingrate,leavingbarehillsidestobestrippedofsoilbyerosion.

Forestsinallthenortheasternstatesweredisappearingfast,butNewYorkwasthefirstto

reversethisseeminglyinexorableprocessbybeginningtoplantseedlingstoreplacetreesthat

hadbeen

cut.

The

commission

believed

in

using

the

latest

science:

sustainable

forestry,

the

conceptofmanagingforestsforlongtermproductivityratherthanshorttermprofitability.GiffordPinchot,wholaterfoundedtheU.S.ForestService,introducedthisnewforestmanagementconcepttotheUnitedStatesintheearlypartofthe20

thcentury.Hehadstudied

forestryinEuropewheretimberwasgrownasarenewableresourceoncarefullymanaged

plantationforests.In1901,thecommissionplantedthefirsttreeplantationonstatelandinthe

Catskillstoreplacetreesthathadbeenlogged.

ThecommissionfoundedNewYorkStatestreenurserysystemin1902,thefirststatetreenurseriesinthenation.Intheirearlyyears,thenurseriessuppliedseedlingsforplantingon

statelandintheCatskillsandAdirondacks.HundredsofmillionsofseedlingsofNorwayspruce,

whitepine,

red

pine

and

Scotch

pine

were

planted

on

State

Forests

as

windbreaks

and

forest

plantations.

In1911,theConservationDepartment,predecessoroftodaysDepartmentofEnvironmentalConservation,wascreatedbylegislationtoconsolidatethefunctionsoftheForest,Fishand

GameCommission,theForestPreserveBoard,theWaterSupplyCommissionandtheWater

PowerCommission.Bycombiningthesecommissionsintoasingledepartment,thestate

greatlyenhanceditsabilitytoprotecttheenvironmentandrespondtonewenvironmental

challenges,suchastherapidabandonmentoffarmlandthatbeganinthe1920s.ManyofthefarmsinNewYorkwereonmarginalland,andasbetterlandbecameavailableoutwest,agriculturebegantodeclineinNewYork.WhentheGreatDepressionhit,manyfarmerscould

nolonger

make

aliving

on

their

worn

out,

unproductive

land.

The1929StateReforestationAct,andthe1931HewittAmendment,authorizedthe

ConservationDepartmenttoacquirelandoutsidetheForestPreservetobeusedforreforestation.TheseStateReforestationAreas,consistingofnotlessthan500acresofcontiguousland,weretobeforeverdevotedtoreforestationandtheestablishmentand

maintenancethereonofforestsforwatershedprotection,theproductionoftimberandfor


26/347


STATEFORESTHISTORY


recreationandkindredpurposes(Article9,Title5,EnvironmentalConservationLaw).TheStateReforestationAreaswerethebeginningoftodaysStateForestsystem.Manyoftheearlyreforestationareaswereestablishedonsomeoftheleastproductivelandinthestate.

Amajority

were

abandoned

farm

lands

withdepletedsoilsandsignificanterosion

issues.TheConservationDepartmentbeganamassivetreeplantingprogramtorestoretheselandsforwatershed

protection,floodpreventionandfuture

timberproduction.Today,theseareasare

coveredwithhealthyforests.

StatefundingfortreeplantingfellvictimtotheDepression,butthefederalCivilian

ConservationCorps

(CCC),

founded

by

PresidentFranklinD.Rooseveltin1933,rescuedthetreeplantingprograminNewYork.Millionsoftreeseedlingswere

plantedonthebarrensoilofthenewstatereforestationareas,workthatprovided

employmentforthousandsofyoungmen.FDRwasespeciallyinterestedinreforestationwork,

havingbegunplantinghisownestatewithseedlingsfromthestateTreeNurseryin1912.

Duringthewaryearsof19411945,verylittlewasaccomplishedonthereforestationareas.Plansforfurtherplanting,construction,facilitymaintenanceandsimilartaskshadtobe

curtailed.AfterWorldWarII,therewasaresurgenceoftreeplantingasmorefarmlandfell

vacant.Throughpostwarfunding,conservationprojectsonceagainreceivedneededattention.

TheParkandRecreationLandAcquisitionActof1960,aswellastheEnvironmentalQuality

BondActsof1972and1986,providedfundsfortheacquisitionofadditionalStateForestlands,

includinginholdingsandparcels

adjacenttoexistingStateForests.

Alloftheselandswereacquired

fortheconservationand

developmentofnaturalresources,

includingthepreservationof

scenicareas,watershed

protection,forestryand

recreation.

Pastlandusepracticeshavelefta

legacyofimpactsonthelandand

soils,whichhaveinfluencedlater

forestdevelopment.MuchofNY

foresttodayispostagricultural Siteplantedin1930nearBrasher,NYonpuresandwithlittlefertility

NYSGovernorFranklinD.RooseveltonReforestationTour

atPleasantBrookandCherryValley,OtsegoCounty


27/347


28/347


STATEFORESTHISTORY


volcanicactivity,earthquakes,igneousintrusions,

regionalmetamorphism,advancingandretreating

sealevels,depositionanderosionofhugedeltas,

andevenahugemeteorstrike350millionyearsago.

Againstthis

changing

backdrop,

plants

and

animals

evolved,firstintheoceanandlateronland.New

Yorkhasoneoftheworldsbestfossilrecordsofthe

DevonianPeriod(408to360millionyearsago),withremarkablywellpreservedmarinesequences,and

alsononmarinefossilsthatshowthetransitionto

land.MostofthebedrockinNewYorkismorethan

250millionyearsold,youngerrockshavingbeen

almostcompletelyremovedbyerosion.

NewYorkspresentlandscapeisdominatedbythe

impactsof

the

last

ice

age.

Only

asmall

area

of

the

southwesternpartofthestateescapedglaciation

(thesouthwestcorneroftheHighAlleganyPlateau

Ecoregion). GlaciersshapedthehighpeaksintheCatskillsandAdirondacks,changedhydrology,formedhugelakes,andcoveredmuchofthestate

withalayerofglacialtill.Wherehugeglaciallakes

onceheldmeltwater,therearenowthicksandand

claydepositssuchasthoseintheHudsonValleyandpartsofCentralNewYork.Remnantsofice

agefeatures,suchassanddunes,riversandandgraveldeposits,andmuckfilledbogscanbefoundinmanypartsofthestate.Butthemostubiquitousmaterialisglacialtill,therough

mixtureof

rocks,

sand

and

clay

scraped

up

and

bulldozed

by

the

glaciers

ice.

This

layer

of

raw

debriswasleftbehindastheiceretreated,sometimesinorientedhillscalleddrumlins,more

oftenasanunevenlayerovertheunderlyingbedrock.Glacierserasedtheexistingforestsand

landformsofNewYorksothoroughlythatthereisalmostnotraceofthepreglacialecology.

Glaciationresetstheecosystemclock.Everythinghastostartoveragain,beginningwithpioneerplantspeciesthatcolonizetherawrockandsterilemineraldebris.Newsoilsbeganto

developasorganicmatteraccumulatedwithsubsequentplantsuccessions.Treespecies,ledby

spruceabout11,000yearsago,migratedbacknorthfromtheirglacialrefuges.Asspecies

migrated,theyformedmanyforesttypes,someofwhicharenolongerfoundtoday.Trees

migratedasindividualspecies,andmovedatdifferentratesdependingonsuccessfullythey

dispersedtheir

seeds.

Some

of

the

early

trees

arriving

soon

after

white

spruce

included

black

spruce,elmandblackash.Oneofthelastmajorspeciestoarrivewaschestnut,reachingNew

Yorkabout2,000yearsago.

StateForestsareoftenonsomeofthepoorestfarmlandinthestate,landthathasbeenlittle

softenedbysoilsincetheretreatoftheglaciers.Forexample,someofthesandysoilsinnorthernNYhadonlyathinorganiclayerwhichwasquicklydestroyedbyfarming.Theresultwassanddrifts,whichcanbeseeninearlyphotographsofStateForestlandsacquiredinthe

TinkerFalls inLabradorHollowUniqueArea

occursoveraneasternexposureoftheTully

LimestoneinCentralNewYork


29/347


STATEFORESTHISTORY


1930s.Hillswithverythinrockysoils,sometimesonlyafewinchesabovebedrock,alsoproved

tobedifficultsitesforfarming.Today,thesesitesareforestedandslowlyregainingorganic

matterlosttoerosion.

Bedrockgeology

forms

the

framework

for

the

landscape,

influencing

the

drainage

patterns,

the

elevation,shapeandorientationofmuchofthetopography,andalsothelocalclimate.For

example,someofthetopographyofNewYorkshowsastrongnortheastsouthwestorientation

thatisderivedfromunderlyingbedrockstructures.Bedrockalsoinfluencessoilandwaterchemistry.MostofthebedrockinNewYork,includingshale,sandstoneandmostmetamorphic

rock,producesacidicsoils.Wherethebedrockislimestoneormarble,soilsarehighincalcium.

Thedifferencebetweenforesttypesgrowingonacidandcalcareoussoilscanbedramatic.

Wheresandstonebedrockisnexttolimestonebedrock,thechangeinvegetationisoften

abrupt.Pitchpines,chestnutoaks,blueberriesandotheracidlovingplantswillnotgrowon

limestone.Otherspeciesaremoretolerant,notablyredcedarwhichgrowswellonrockysitesofanytype.Forredcedar,lackofshadefromcompetitionisamoreimportantfactorthansoil

chemistry.

Locationandtopographyiscriticalforatreebecause,unlikeananimal,itcannotphysically

movetoanothersite.Manyelementsofasiteaffectatree,includingaspect,elevation,moistureavailability,soilthicknessandrootingdepth,windexposure,frosteffectsandsoilchemistry.Differentspecieshavedifferentsiterequirements,andthehealthandvigorofatree

ultimatelydependsonwhereitgrows.Encouragingthegrowthoftreespeciesonsiteswith

optimalconditionsisoneoftheimportantbenefitsofforestmanagement.Forexample,sugar

maplegrowingonasouthfacingdryslopeislikelytobestressedbydroughtandheat,and

moresusceptibletoinsectsanddisease.However,manyoakspecieswouldthriveonsuchasite,sincetheypreferwarmwelldrainedconditions.

Forestersmustrelyontheirknowledgeofthesiterequirementsforeachtreespeciesand

forestcommunity,sotheirmanagementeffortsemulatenaturalsystemsascloselyaspossible,

andresultinresilientandhealthyforests.Intheexampleabove,aharvestonasouthfacingdry

slopewouldfocusonremovingspecieswhichwouldbestressed,suchassugarmaples,andperpetuatingspecieswhichdobestunderthoseconditions,suchasoaks.Thispurposefullyparallelsthenaturalsuccessionalchangesnaturewouldfollowandcontributestotheoverall

ecologicalhealthofthearea.


30/347


31/347


MANAGEMENTPLANNINGOVERVIEW



STATEWIDEPLAN

Thisstatewide

plan

has

been

developed

to

lead

future

management

of

DECadministeredStateForests.Itestablishesstatewidemanagement

guidelinesforDECstaffthroughaprocessofpublicinvolvementand

review.TheplanprovidesafoundationforthedevelopmentofUnit

ManagementPlans(UMPs),whichsetforththespecificactionstobe

undertakenbyDEConindividualStateForests.AsindividualUMPsare

developed,thisplanwillserveasaguideandwillbeincludedbyreference.Thisplanwillbe

revisedatleastonceeverytenyears.

Developmentoftheplanoccursthroughapublicprocesswithmanysteps:

Step1

A

Draft

State

Forest

Management

Plan

is

written

with

input

from

awide

variety

of

resourceexpertsincludingbiologists,ecologists,foresters,geologists,botanists,and

accessibilityspecialists.ThedraftplandevelopmentreliesheavilyonexistingUMPsandrelated

publicinput.

Step2 TheDraftStateForestManagementPlanisreviewedbytheDepartment'sregional,

legalandexecutivestaffwithrevisionsadoptedasneeded.

Step3 TheStateEnvironmentalQualityReviewAct(SEQRA)processisinitiatedbydrafting

anEnvironmentalAssessmentForm.

Step4 TheDraftStateForestManagementPlanispresentedtothepublicforcomment.A

pressrelease

is

distributed

to

news

outlets

across

the

State.

An

email

announcing

the

release

ofthedraftplanissenttoanumberofrecreationalandconstituentgroupleaders.Thedraft

planispostedonDEC'sPublicwebsite.CopiesoftheplanaremadeavailableinallDECfield

offices,inanumberoflibraries,andinCDorhardcopyformthroughthemail.Releaseofthe

planandnoticeofpublichearingsarepostedontheEnvironmentalNoticeBulletin(ENB),a

DEConlinepublication.Apressreleaseannouncingpublichearingsandcommentopportunities

isdistributedstatewidetoallmajornewsoutlets.Adirectmailingismadetoorganizeduser

groups.PublichearingsareheldatnumerouslocationsacrosstheStatetosolicitoral

comments.Writtencommentsareacceptedfor45daysbymailorbyemailto

[email protected].

Step5 Commentsarereviewedandaresponsivenessdocumentisthenpreparedand

distributedtoallindividualswhoprovidetheircontactinformationalongwiththeircomments.

Step6 AfinalStateForestManagementPlaniswritten,withappropriatechanges,basedon

publiccomments.ThisplangoesthroughinternalreviewbyDECexecutivestaffforfinal

approvalbytheCommissioner.TheSEQRprocessiscompletedandnoticedintheENBalong

withadoptionofthemanagementplan.
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]


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UNITMANAGEMENTPLANNING

UMPswillestablishspecificmanagementactivitiesandserveasavehicleforthe

implementationofthisplanbyaddressingstatewideobjectivesonthelocalunit.Aunit,forthe

purposesof

unit

management

planning,

consists

of

the

state

owned

land

managed

by

DEC

withinagivengeographicarea.Ratherthan,developaUMPforeachindividualStateForest,

DECstaffassembleunits,oftenconsistingofmultipleStateForestsandotherDECadministered

lands,suchasWildlifeManagementAreas,thatareadjacentandsimilartooneanother.

AUMPcontainsanassessmentofthe

naturalandphysicalresourcesontheunit

andconsidersthelandscapeconditionsin

thesurroundinggeographicarea.Each

UMPsupportstheecoregionalobjectives

inthisplan.TheUMPguidesthe

Departmentsactivities

on

the

unit

for

a

tenyearperiod,althoughanumberof

goalsandobjectivesintheplanfocusona

muchlongertimeperiod.Eachplan

addressesspecificobjectivesandactions

forpublicuseandecosystem

management.

Inthedevelopmentofthisplan,thestate

wasdividedinto80UMPs.Basedonthis

reorganization,UMPs

have

been

scheduledtobecompletedandupdated

ona10yearcycle.Astatewidemapof

unitsandscheduleofUMPcompletion

havebeendeveloped.AstatewideUMP

templatewillbecompletedtoenable

timelyandmorestandardized

developmentofUMPs.Reorganizationof

unitmanagementplanningacrossthe

statehasresultedinasignificant

reductioninthetotalnumberofunitsandisintendedtoincreasetheamountofstafftime

availableforothermanagementactivities.

ADDITIONALRESOURCES

StatewideMapofUnitsandUMPCompletionScheduleAstatewideschedule,

organizedbyyearoffirstdraftcompletion,andmapdelineatingthenewUMP

boundariescanbefoundatwww.dec.ny.gov/lands/64567.html
http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/64567.htmlhttp://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/64567.html


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PUBLICPARTICIPATION

Oneofthemostvaluableand

influentialaspectsofUMP

developmentis

public

participation.

Manydiversepublicstakeholders

helpvetpotentialissuesduringthe

planningprocess.Additionally,public

participationgivesstakeholdersan

opportunitytoinfluencethedecision

makingprocessandknowtheir

interestsarepartofthefinalplan.

ThereareaseriesofstepsinvolvedindevelopingaUMP:

1. ConductaresourceinventoryoftheStateForestsoftheunit2. Solicitwrittenandverbalinputfromthepublic3. DevelopadraftUMP4. InternalreviewandapprovalofdraftUMP5. ReleasedraftUMPandconductpublicmeetingstogathercommentsonthedraftplan6. AddressissuesanddevelopafinalUMP7. DECCommissionerapprovesfinalUMPandimplementationbegins.

PublicInput

Initially,publicinputisgatheredtohelpbegintheprocessofdevelopingaUMP.Peopleare

encouragedtohelpidentifyissuesthatneedtobeaddressedintheplan.Massmailings,press

releasesand

public

meetings

may

be

conducted

to

obtain

input

from

adjoining

landowners,

recreationclubs,naturalresourceorganizationsandthegeneralpublic.Initialpublicinputis

receivedintheformofverbalcomments,emailsandletters.

UnitManagementPlanDevelopment

InformationgatheredfromthepublicisincorporatedintothedraftUMP.Afterpublicinputis

received,Departmentstaffalsoperformsadditionalfieldworkandconductsindepthresearch

ontopicsrelatedtotheUMP.Allofthisinformationisnecessarytoprovideasoundfoundation

fordecisionmaking.ThedraftUMPincludesabrieflocalhistoryasitrelatestofuture

management,informationontheunit,andtreatmentandprojectscheduleswithbudgetsfor

theStateForestsoftheunit.

DraftUnitManagementPlan

OncethedraftUMPisformallyreleased,timelinesanddeadlinesbecomelessflexible.Thisis

duetothenoticingandcommentrequirementsrelatedtotheNewYorkStateEnvironmental

QualityReviewAct(SEQRA)andalsoduetotheneedtoissueafinalUMPandbegin

implementation.MeetingsareheldtogatherpublicinputonthedraftUMP.Ifindividualsare

notabletoattendapublicmeeting,commentsmayalsobemadeinwriting,bytelephone,fax,

UMPpublicmeetingsprovideanopportunityforinputfrom

concernedcitizens,neighborsandusergroups


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oremailupto30daysafterthepublicmeeting.Regardlessoftheformatofpublicinput,all

formsofcommunicationwithDECcarryequalweight.

AddressIssuesandDevelopFinalUnitManagementPlan

Allcomments

received

are

considered,

and

revisions

to

the

UMP

are

made

as

appropriate.

A

FinalUMPistheresult,whichisreviewedforSEQRAcomplianceandforwardedtotheDEC

Commissionerforreviewandapproval.

MANAGEMENTTEAMANDRESPONSIBILITIES

StateForestUMPsarewrittenbyDECsDivisionofLandsandForestswithinputfromthe

DivisionofFish,Wildlife,andMarineResources,theDivisionofOperations,theDivisionof

MineralResources,theDivisionofForestProtectionandFireManagement,theDivisionof

PublicAffairsandEducation,andtheOfficeofInvasiveSpeciesCoordination.Adescriptionof

each

divisions

responsibilities

is

listed

below.

Additional

information

can

be

found

on

DECs

websiteatwww.dec.ny.gov.

DivisionofLandsandForests

Foresters,ForestTechniciansandSurveyorsintheDivisionofLandsandForestsareresponsible

forthestewardship,management,protection,andrecreationaluseofStateForestlands,the

careofthepeoplewhousetheselandsandtheacquisitionofadditionallandstoconserve

uniqueandsignificantresources.DECalsoprovidesforestryleadershipbyprovidingtechnical

assistancetoprivateforestlandownersandtheforestproductsindustry.

DivisionofFish,Wildlife,andMarineResources

Biologists,Ecologists

and

Zoologists

in

the

Division

of

Fish,

Wildlife,

and

Marine

Resources

serve

thepublicbyusingtheircollectiveskillstodescribe,understand,manage,andperpetuatea

healthyanddiverseassemblageoffishandwildlifepopulations,andecosystems.

Withinthedivision,theNYNaturalHeritageProgramcombinesthoroughfieldinventories,

scientificanalyses,expertinterpretation,andcomprehensivedatabasestodeliverquality

informationonNewYork'sfloraandfauna.TheNaturalHeritageProgramstudiesthemost

imperiledspecies,ecosystems,andhighqualitynaturalareas,enablingmanagementdecisions

thathavesignificantandlastingeffectsonthepreservationofNewYork'sbiodiversity.

DivisionofOperations

Engineersand

field

staff

in

the

Division

of

Operations

provide

technical

services,

facilities

management,andmaintenanceofphysicalassetstoinsureeffectiveandefficientoperationof

DECandsafepublicuseofDepartmentlandsandfacilities.

DivisionofMineralResources

TheDivisionofMineralResourcesisresponsibleforensuringtheenvironmentallysound,

economicdevelopmentofNewYork'snonrenewableenergyandmineralresourcesforthe

benefitofcurrentandfuturegenerations.
http://www.dec.ny.gov/http://www.dec.ny.gov/


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DivisionofForestProtectionandFireManagement

ForestRangersintheDivisionofForestProtectionandFireManagementareresponsiblefor

thepreservationandprotectionofthestate'sforestresources,andthesafetyandwellbeingof

thepublic

using

these

resources.

DivisionofPublicAffairsandEducation

StaffintheDivisionofPublicAffairsandEducationcommunicatewiththepublic;promotecitizenparticipation;trainteachersandinformstudents;operatefourenvironmentaleducation

centersandfoursummerenvironmentalcampsforyoungsters;publishprintmaterials;produce

broadcastandaudiovisualcommunications;developandmanageDEC'swebsite.

OfficeofInvasiveSpeciesCoordination

TheOfficeofInvasiveSpeciesCoordinationisresponsibleforpreventingorminimizingtheharmcausedbyinvasivespeciestoNewYorksenvironmentbycollaboratingandcoordinating

effortswith

all

stakeholders

across

the

state.


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SUSTAINABILITYandFORESTCERTIFICATION


SUSTAINABILITYANDFORESTCERTIFICATION

SUSTAINABLEFORESTMANAGEMENT

Sustainableforest

management

is

the

practice

of

meeting

the

forest

resource

needs

and

values

ofthepresentwithoutcompromisingthesimilarcapabilityoffuturegenerations(Helms1998).

OnStateForests,thismeansmaintainingtheirhealth,productivity,diversity,andoverall

integrityint

ny dec gas drilling draft

Documents